Washington, D.C. - Late last night, the U.S. Senate passed the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 (H.R. 6).  The bill included an amendment introduced by Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), The Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2007 (Amendment No. 1764).   The amendment seeks to spur development of clean, non-greenhouse gas emitting renewable energy technologies.

"By harnessing the power of waves, rivers, tides, currents, and thermal power to generate electricity, we will strengthen our national security by increasing energy independence, while reducing our emission of harmful greenhouse gases," Akaka said. 

"Energy is expensive in Hawaii.  Our island state is particularly vulnerable to radical price fluctuations of oil.  We also understand the necessity of environmentally-friendly solutions to our energy challenges.  The ocean sits at our doorstep, providing us with sustenance, food, recreation, a cool break on a hot day, and now potential as a major source of renewable energy," Akaka said. 

According to the Electric Power Research Institute, 252 million megawatt hours of electricity representing 6.5 percent of U.S. energy demand could be generated by ocean energy technologies.

The Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2007:

• Establishes a program to:
• research and develop marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies with commercial viability;
• integrate marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy into electric grids; and
• identify economy of scales between offshore wind and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy sources.
• Requires a report to Congress on:
• potential environmental impacts of the technologies; and
• measures to minimize or prevent adverse impacts.
• Authorizes $50 million per year from FY 2008 through FY 2017.
• Establishes up to 6 national ocean energy research centers at institutions of higher education for the purpose of conducting research, development, demonstration, and testing of ocean energy technologies.

Senator Akaka's bipartisan amendment was cosponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).   The amendment was added to the bill on Thursday night by unanimous consent.

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